Chapter 3: Visiting a friend

A woman who lived here longer than my ancestors have existed was trivially challenging me. "Well, some…"

She leaned over the table, resting her hand on the glass top – intrigued. "Like what? Do you know who we are?"

I nodded and pointed to the corresponding person, "Yukari Yakumo, Ran Yakumo, and Chen."

Chen hissed a little when her name was said last without a last name.

"Very good," Yukari continued with her closed eye smile, "Our abilities?"

What was Ran…? What was Ran…?

"You're borders, you're control over Chen, and you're… Black magic?"

The Cat harrumphed, "You only got it 'cause of my tails!" Those very tails swished at her side like cobras waiting to attack.

"Chen, you're brown." Ran sighed yet again.

"You're a knowledgeable little human girl. Any other people you know?"

"The list would go on forever…"

Yukari chuckled, "What about my friends?"

"Reimu, Suika… Oh! And Yuyuko Saigyouji!"

Yukari slightly giggled, "You seem so excited about Yuyuko."

Ran dramatically emphasized sarcasm, "Oh hum. A human who loves food gets excited over Yuyuko? Oh my, that certainly isn't normal."

Chen laughed at her Mistress' silly act while Yukari sneered. "Indeed… Should we go there now?"

"Yukari-Sama, it's too late to visit her house."

"Is it now?" Two Rifts opened beside Yukari. One had blackness and the moon, while the other emanated brightness and the sun. The vortexes disappeared and the sun was in the middle of the sky. "I think you need to glance at the window, Ran."

The fox sighed, got up, and cleaned up everybody's platters and utensils.

Yukari lazily whirled off her chair and snatched her parasol from one of her gaps, walking to the door. "Shall we go, Kin-Kin?"

Excited, I got up, eager to see the person I had admired as a favorite.

Chen scooted next to us and tugged on my leash.

"Ouch!"

"Tee hee, this is fun!" She yanked rapidly on the grogaine tied to my neck.

Yukari wagged a finger at the kitten, "Chen-chan, don't kill my plaything. ~"

I gulped.

"What? So far, I've nothing else to call you." She playfully smirked.

Ran finally caught up with us as we started a little down the staircase.

"Shouldn't we go through the borders today, Miss?"

Yukari protested. "Exercise doesn't hurt, Ran."

Ran grumbled and quickened her pace; "It doesn't hurt me, but remember, we have a human girl?"

"Right…" Yukari looked at me, a little displeased, "The plaything has no powers. And humans can't fly… All right. To the gaps, little one!"

Not to my surprise, the youkai ripped open another gaping hole into space and shoved us through. We all ended up at the top of a ridiculously huge staircase in front of a gate sealed by magic.

A five-foot-tall girl with perfectly trimmed silver hair tucked back in a black headband greeted us as the edifice of a gate opened.

The girl's torso ensemble matched Chen's, but green rather than red.

Her skirt was green, but I didn't notice she wielded two katanas. When I saw her ghost, I knew who she was.

"Youmu!" I burst out.

"Yes… Hello, do I know you?"

I shunned myself when Yukari stepped forward, "She's my newest plaything, she wanted to see Yuyuko."

Youmu's grip on her swords tightened, "… Is it safe?"

Ok. Now I'm a little ticked.

"Of course it is!" Yukari patted me on the head.

Youmu stepped aside and led our odd group to Hakugyokurou, a massive house with the grandest garden where Yuyuko lives.

A short walk through the garden and we arrived at the front door of Yuyuko. Youmu slid the wood doors open to her Mistress sitting at the head of a humongous kotatsu – chowing on her fourteenth bowl of Katsudon.

"Youmu? ~" Yuyuko swallowed her bite, "We have visitors?"

"Yuko, dear." Yukari folded her parasol and tossed it to Ran.

Yuyuko clapped, "Yukari!"

"It is good to see you again, two days is such a long time. ~" The youkai teased.

Yuyuko gazed wide-eyed at me then at Yukari, "Who's this?"

"Ara, Ara," Yukari clasped her hands, "She is my human I fished out of a gap."

"Ooh! Does it do anything?"

Yukari "secretly" kicked my foot, wanting me to say something.

"H… Hello, Yuyuko."

"It speaks! It speaks!" The ghost rejoiced, "Do you do anything else?"

My mouth opened, but Yukari stole my chance to speak, "I'm giving her three days to see if she's worth having around. If not, I'll just throw her away like the rest of them."

"How will you rid of her?"

Yukari devilishly grinned, "Burning, Drowning, Suffocating, Freezing. All fine methods of torture, but all too fast. Perhaps a slow-cooked meal?"

The thoughts of being roasted alive, paperweighted to the sea, and being set in a field with a blaze all made my insides turn.

"I wonder how a human would taste?" Yuyuko smacked her lips and stared at my arms.

"In due time, we'll know, Yuko dear."

"Would you like some lunch?" Yuyuko held a little dish out for her friend.

Yukari shook her hand, "No, thank you, Yuko dear. We just ate a dish thought up by my little plaything." Yukari kicked me again, "What was that dish?"

I almost didn't want to say it just because Yuyuko might eat me alive at the description; "It was baked chicken with a cheese crust and some potatoes."

Yuyuko's pupils massively enlarged, "… Chicken?"

Youmu's eyes went wide, too, but with fear.

Yuyuko evilly grinned with squinted eyes, "I think I could go for some chicken."